Clarke County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Clarke County, Alabama has a population of 22,543, the 43rd most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $49,249 and the median home value is $121,700. The poverty rate is 20.1%.

Clarke County Quick Facts

Population 22,543

Median Household Income $49,24990% MOE ±$3,377

Median Home Value $121,70090% MOE ±$8,732

Poverty Rate 20.1%90% MOE ±3.5 pts

Unemployment Rate 9.2%90% MOE ±2.8 pts

Median Age 42.8 years90% MOE ±0.6 years

Homeownership Rate 70.8%90% MOE ±2.5 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 15.0%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 86.1%

Cities/Places 8

Population 22,543 43rd of 67

Median Income $49,249 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 20.1%

Unemployment 9.2%

How Clarke County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	24,128	22,543	-6.6%
Median household income	$46,033	$49,249	No clear change (+7.0%)
Median home value¹	$138,455	$121,700	No clear change (-12.1%)
Median gross rent	$683	$782	No clear change (+14.5%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Clarke

$49,249

$63,999

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Clarke

$121,700

$209,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.5%

$25K-$50K 22.2%

$50K-$100K 26.1%

$100K+ 23.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

10.4%

$10K-$15K

4.7%

$15K-$20K

4.8%

$20K-$25K

8.6%

$25K-$30K

4.0%

$30K-$35K

6.5%

$35K-$40K

5.6%

$40K-$45K

2.9%

$45K-$50K

3.2%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

8.1%

$75K-$100K

11.0%

$100K-$125K

8.1%

$125K-$150K

5.8%

$150K-$200K

4.6%

$200K+

4.7%

Employment

9.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

50.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.8%

Renter 29.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.5x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $782/mo 19.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.6%

18-34

20.2%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

25.9%

75+

9.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Clarke County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Jackson	4,589	$37,948	26.1%	$130,900
Thomasville	3,619	$42,671	20.2%	$116,000
Grove Hill	2,341	$59,219	18.2%	$126,800
Fulton	431	$60,926	0.7%	$117,300
Coffeeville	237	$30,156	20.4%	$82,000
Rockville	223	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Whatley	162	$68,914	0.0%	N/A
Carlton	35	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Alabama Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Clarke County is located in Alabama with a total population of 22,543. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clarke County is 42.8 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clarke County is $49,249. This is 23% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.2%. This is 96% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $121,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Clarke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clarke County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 44.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (44.6% vs 25.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.6%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Clarke County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clarke County, Alabama?

Clarke County has a population of 22,543, making it the 43rd most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Clarke County?

The median household income in Clarke County is $49,249 with a poverty rate of 20.1%.

How many cities are in Clarke County, Alabama?

Clarke County contains 8 Census-designated places.